Topic: Car for Daughter

[sailor723]

We are considering buying a vehicle for our daughter next spring when she comes home from university. She'd be using it at college (small town NS) and for making the 500km trek home on long weekends,Christmas holidays etc. Obviously safety and reliability are  foremost considerations. The budget is probably going to be mid-high teens  with the idea that the car would be kept 21/2-3 years.

Given this article on "Safest Cars" I'm thinking CRV maybe?...(The A6 and E class are probably a little rich  )

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/driving-it-home/top-10-safest-vehicles-on-the-road/article2053926/

[airbalancer]

The budget is probably going to be mid-high teens  with the idea that the car would be kept 21/2-3 years.

That a long time
Talk with H20 I think he keeps his cars that long

When my daughters were going to collage I leased then Sunfires, it was cheap to lease ( 36 month way back) came with road side assistance, then I just gave them back to GM, easy to do

[sailor723]

  Sorry...should have read "two and one half to three years" 

[airbalancer]

  Sorry...should have read "two and one half to three years" 

[CanuckG35]

I think he meant 2.5-3 years.  

I don't think you could go wrong with a CR-V.  Reliable, AWD, enough space to transport stuff home from University, etc.

[airbalancer]

when the son went to school he got old beaters, he could take care of break downs  himself  

[johngenx]

A used CR-V is a super safe bet.  Drive it for three years and it will barely depreciate and during that time, cost next to nothing to run.

[EV Dan]

I wouldn't take that article very seriously. Of course 350Z is not safe, but that's I bet the driver's fault, not the car's. While things like Aveo and Cobalt are to cheap to even have ESC or a good number of airbags. If 3 years is all she's keeping it for then get smth she likes that won't depreciate much. CRV, RAV4 or a Subie for snowy places.

[blur911]

Seems like a decent deal.

http://saintjohn.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-cars-trucks-2010-Subaru-Impreza-W0QQAdIdZ330840512

[tortoise]

CR-Vs in that price usually have higher mileage and are 07's and older.    But, if you'll only be keeping it for a few years then slow depreciation may work in your favour.

Impreza is also a good bet.  As is Rav4.

What about an Escape?  You can most likely find a newer model with lower kms in your price range.   Not exactly a cool car however.


I wouldn't get too caught up in what is classified a "safe" car.  IMO, all modern cars are ridiculously safe.

[sailor723]

CR-Vs in that price usually have higher mileage and are 07's and older.    But, if you'll only be keeping it for a few years then slow depreciation may work in your favour.

Impreza is also a good bet.  As is Rav4.

What about an Escape?  You can most likely find a newer model with lower kms in your price range.   Not exactly a cool car however.


I wouldn't get too caught up in what is classified a "safe" car.  IMO, all modern cars are ridiculously safe.

That's true but all other things being equal mass wins.


I think she likes the small CUV idea and i like the reliability/safety/resale advantages.

I'm seeing some nicely equipped Nissan Rogues with +/- 75 kms on them for 17K ask (08 model year)

edit....I should mention AT is a must and I would insist on ESC and AWD

[Scarecrow]

Get her one of these...

[johngenx]

I concur about a CUV, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy a 5 year old CR-V, RAV-4, or Forester.  Impreza too.  If they're that age, a huge chunk of depreciation is gone, and it won't lose much more in 2-3 years.  They're deadly reliable.

[Railton]

I concur about a CUV, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy a 5 year old CR-V, RAV-4, or Forester.  Impreza too.  If they're that age, a huge chunk of depreciation is gone, and it won't lose much more in 2-3 years.  They're deadly reliable.

+1 and I would throw the Escape in as well.
Railton

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I'd buy her bus tickets. 15 tonnes and 40ft of stainless steel.

The problem with the study is they didn't correct for demographics. Lots of young "poor" kids can only afford sub-compacts. They have higher accident rates than a woman in her 50s driving a CUV or minivan.

If you can find one at a decent price, the CRV, RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander or Escape would serve the purpose.

[Jaeger]

I concur about a CUV, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy a 5 year old CR-V, RAV-4, or Forester.  Impreza too.  If they're that age, a huge chunk of depreciation is gone, and it won't lose much more in 2-3 years.  They're deadly reliable.

+1 and I would throw the Escape in as well.
Railton

+2  Don't forget to factor in the cost of some decent tires.  AWD will be of no help to her in in a snowstorm if she's running on near bald no-season rubber.

Jaeger

[Careener]

This would get her home through anything + haul all her gear.

[Snowman]

I bought my daughter a 2003 Toyota Echo 4 years ago and she lives in Saskatoon. Not one single issue and all she has done is regular scheduled maintenance. Two work colleagues have just bought their daughters the new 2012 Impreza.

[dr_spock]

Have you asked your daughter what vehicles does she like?

[sailor723]

Have you asked your daughter what vehicles does she like?

She does like the CUV look although I'm sure she'd jump at anything. The only "please don't" is a station wagon    (We bought her older sister a '99 Subaru Legacy wagon years ago when she was about this age)

Other options are a good quality compact sedan or H/B with strong IIHS scores.....something like Imprezza,Corolla,Civic,Mazda 3 etc,etc. If we went this way we could probably either go a year or two newer or save 2-3k